Locking device

ABSTRACT

A locking device including a hoop, the hoop curling up to form an axial mounting hole in the middle. An upper convex block, a lower convex block, a middle aperture, a left aperture, a right aperture, an upper convex ear, a lower convex ear, an upper guiding inclined plane, and a lower guiding inclined plane are disposed in the device. The upper convex block and the lower convex block move axially to narrow the middle aperture, the upper guiding inclined plane and the lower guiding inclined plane contact with each other to make the upper convex block and the lower convex block to move circumferentially to narrow both the left aperture and the right aperture and enable the hoop to tightly hold objects inside the axial mounting hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 13/343,696filed on Jan. 4, 2012, now pending, which is a continuation ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/CN2010/077251, with aninternational filing date of Sep. 25, 2010, which is based on ChinesePatent Application No. 201020152163.9, filed Mar. 31, 2010. The contentsof all of these specifications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a locking device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional locking devices include a hoop and a mounting hole formedin the middle thereof. Particularly, for an external rotor axial flowfan, as shown in FIG. 19, the hoop is connected using blades. All sideinstallation sections of the hoop are all arranged with radial mountingholes. The installation sections are radially connected using externalbolts and nuts to circumferentially tighten the rotor of the externalrotor motor of the axial flow fan. In the process of assembly anddisassembly, as the bolts are mounted close to the fan blades, theinstallation spaces are severely limited, thereby leading toinconvenient and inefficient assembly and disassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described problems, it is one objective of theinvention to provide a locking device that has a simple structure, lowcost, robust connecting structure, convenient and efficient assembly anddisassembly processes.

This objective is achieved using the following technical schemes.

A locking device comprises a hoop, the hoop curling up to form an axialmounting hole in the middle, wherein an upper convex block protrudesfrom a left side end of the hoop while a lower convex block protrudesfrom a right side end of the hoop; the upper convex block and the lowerconvex block are misaligned to form a middle aperture; a left apertureis formed between the hoop's left side end and the lower convex block, aright aperture is formed between the hoop's right side end and the upperconvex block; an upper convex ear protrudes from the outer side of theupper convex block and a lower convex ear protrudes from the outer sideof the lower convex block; the upper convex ear corresponds to the lowerconvex ear with respect to their positions; the upper convex block andthe lower convex block are respectively arranged with an upper guidinginclined plane and a lower guiding inclined plane; the upper convex earcomprises a through hole, and the lower convex ear comprises a mountinghole; the through hole of the upper convex ear and the mounting hole ofthe lower convex ear are axially connected using a bolt-nut mechanism orscrews to lock the upper convex ear and the lower convex ear; the upperconvex block and the lower convex block move axially to narrow themiddle aperture, the upper guiding inclined plane and the lower guidinginclined plane contact with each other to make the upper convex blockand the lower convex block to move circumferentially to narrow both theleft aperture and the right aperture and enable the hoop to tightly holdan object inside the axial mounting hole.

In a class of this embodiment, the upper guiding inclined plane and thelower guiding inclined plane are directly arranged on the opposite endof the upper convex block and the lower convex block, or respectivelyarranged on an upper inclined plate and a lower inclined plate extendingfrom the upper convex block and the lower convex block.

In a class of this embodiment, the upper convex ear is respectivelyarranged at both ends of the upper inclined plate, the lower convex earis respectively arranged at both ends of the lower inclined plate, andthe upper convex ear corresponds to the lower convex ear with respect totheir positions.

In a class of this embodiment, the upper convex ear is arranged at oneend of the upper inclined plate, the lower convex ear is arranged at oneend of the lower inclined plate, and the upper convex ear corresponds tothe lower convex ear with respect to their positions.

In a class of this embodiment, both the through hole of the upper convexear and the mounting hole of the lower convex ear have a circular or awaist shape.

Fan blades are connected to the outer wall of the hoop.

In a class of this embodiment, the object inside the axial mounting holeis either an external rotor of a motor or a motor shaft.

In a class of this embodiment, the outer side of the hoop is connectedto the fan blades using a mounting foot; a balancing structure isarranged either on the mounting foot or the hoop to eliminate dynamicunbalance caused by the bolt-nut mechanism or the screws. The balancingstructure is a weight adjustment hole arranged either on the mountingfoot or the hoop.

In a class of this embodiment, both the fan blades and the mounting footare three in number, which are arranged along the surface of the hoopwith even circumference. The weight adjustment hole is arranged on themounting foot on both sides rather than the opposite sides of either thebolt-nut mechanism or the screws.

In a class of this embodiment, the weight adjustment hole is arrangedclose to either the bolt-nut mechanism or the screws.

Advantages of the invention are summarized below: 1) the upper convexblock protrudes from the left side end of the hoop while the lowerconvex block protrudes from the right side end of the hoop; the upperconvex block and the lower convex block are misaligned to form themiddle aperture, the left aperture is formed between the hoop's leftside end and the lower convex block, the right aperture is formedbetween the hoop's right side end and the upper convex block; the upperconvex ear protrudes from the outer side of the upper convex block andthe lower convex ear protrudes from the outer side of the lower convexblock; the upper convex ear corresponds to the lower convex ear withrespect to their positions; the upper convex block and the lower convexblock are respectively arranged with the upper guiding inclined planeand the lower guiding inclined plane; the bolt-nut mechanism or screwsare used to axially connect the through hole of the upper convex ear andthe mounting hole of the lower convex ear so as to lock the upper convexear and the lower convex ear. The above structure is characterized inthat it has a simple installation structure, low cost, robust connectingstructure, big axial locking space, and convenient and efficientassembly and disassembly processes, and during assembly and disassemblyprocesses, it is unlikely to be affected by the fan blades; and 2) thebalancing structure is arranged either on the mounting foot or the hoopto eliminate dynamic unbalance caused by the bolt-nut mechanism or thescrews. The balancing structure is the weight adjustment hole arrangedeither on the mounting foot or the hoop. It is characterized in that ithas a simple balance calibration process, simple structure, low cost,high product efficiency, excellent product quality consistency, andreliable quality since the dynamic unbalance problem has been solvedduring the design; three fan blades and mounting feet, arranged alongthe surface of the hoop with even circumference with the weightadjustment hole arranged on the mounting feet, further ensures thereliability and helps to eliminate dynamic unbalance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional structural view of a locking deviceaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a locking device of FIG. 1 beforeinstallation and locking;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a locking device of FIG. 1 afterinstallation and locking;

FIG. 4 is a second three-dimensional structural view of a locking deviceaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a locking device of FIG. 4 beforeinstallation and locking;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a locking device of FIG. 4 afterinstallation and locking;

FIG. 7 is a third three-dimensional structural view of a locking deviceaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a locking device of FIG. 7 beforeinstallation and locking;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a locking device of FIG. 7 afterinstallation and locking;

FIG. 10 is a first structural representation of a through hole of anupper convex ear and a mounting hole of a lower convex ear of thelocking device according to one embodiment of the invention beforeinstallation and locking;

FIG. 11 is a corresponding position diagram of the through hole of theupper convex ear and the mounting hole of the lower convex ear of thelocking device of FIG. 10 after installation and locking;

FIG. 12 is a second corresponding structure diagram of the through holeof the upper convex ear and the amounting hole of the lower convex earof the locking device of the invention before installation and locking;

FIG. 13 is a corresponding position diagram of the through hole of theupper convex ear and the amounting hole of the lower convex ear of thelocking device of FIG. 12 after installation and locking;

FIG. 14 is a three-dimensional view of a locking device according to oneembodiment of the invention mounted with fan blades;

FIG. 15 is a three-dimensional view of a locking device according to oneembodiment of the invention applying to an external rotor fan;

FIG. 16 is a three-dimensional view of a locking device according to oneembodiment of the invention applying to a motor shaft;

FIG. 17 is a top view of a locking device according to one embodiment ofthe invention mounted with fan blades;

FIG. 18 is a three-dimensional view of a locking device according to oneembodiment of the invention mounted with a weight adjustment hole; and

FIG. 19 is a structural view of a conventional locking device applyingto an external rotor axial flow fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The invention is explained in further detail below with the aid of theexample embodiments and attached drawings.

Example 1

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a locking device comprises a hoop 1. The hoop 1curls up to form an axial mounting hole 2 in the middle; an upper convexblock 111 protrudes from the left side end 11 of the hoop 1 while alower convex block 121 protrudes from the right side end 12 of the hoop1; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convex block 121 aremisaligned to form a middle aperture 31; a left aperture 32 is formedbetween the hoop's left side end 11 and the lower convex block 121 and aright aperture 33 is formed between the hoop's right side end 12 and theupper convex block 111; an upper convex ear 112 protrudes from the outerside of the upper convex block 111 and a lower convex ear 122 protrudesfrom the outer side of the lower convex block 121; the upper convex ear112 corresponds to the lower convex ear 122 with respect to theirpositions; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convex block 121 arerespectively arranged with an upper guiding inclined plane 113 and alower guiding inclined plane 123; as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 or FIGS.12 and 13, a bolt-nut mechanism or screws are used to axially connect athrough hole 115 of the upper convex ear 112 and a mounting hole 125 ofthe lower convex ear 122 so as to lock the upper convex ear 112 and thelower convex ear 122; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convexblock 121 move axially to narrow the middle aperture 31, the upperguiding inclined plane 113 and the lower guiding inclined plane 123contact with each other to make the upper convex block 111 and the lowerconvex block 121 to move circumferentially to narrow both the leftaperture 32 and the right aperture 33 and enable the hoop 1 to tightlyhold the object inside the axial mounting hole 2.

The upper guiding inclined plane 113 and the lower guiding inclinedplane 123 are arranged on an upper inclined plate 114 and a lowerinclined plate 124 extending through the upper convex block 111 and thelower convex block 121; the upper convex ear 112 is arranged on one orboth sides of the upper inclined plate 114 and the lower convex ear 122is arranged on one or both sides of the lower inclined plate 124, theupper convex ear 112 corresponds to the lower convex ear 122 withrespect to their positions; as shown in FIGS. 10-13, both the throughhole 115 of the upper convex ear 112 and the mounting hole 125 of thelower convex ear 122 have a circular or a waist shape.

As shown in FIGS. 14-16, a fan blade 9 is coupled to the outer wall ofthe hoop 1; the object inside the axial mounting hole 2 is either anexternal rotor 5 of a motor or a motor shaft 7. Certainly the lockingdevice of the invention is also applicable to other fields besidesmotors.

Example 2

As shown in FIGS. 4-6, a locking device comprises a hoop 1. The hoop 1curls up to form an axial mounting hole 2 in the middle; an upper convexblock 111 protrudes from the left side end 11 of the hoop 1 while alower convex block 121 protrudes from the right side end 12 of the hoop1; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convex block 121 aremisaligned to form a middle aperture 31; a left aperture 32 is formedbetween the hoop's left side end 11 and the lower convex block 121 and aright aperture 33 is formed between the hoop's right side end 12 and theupper convex block 111; an upper convex ear 112 protrudes from the outerside of the upper convex block 111 and a lower convex ear 122 protrudesfrom the outer side of the lower convex block 121; the upper convex ear112 corresponds to the lower convex ear 122 with respect to theirpositions; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convex block 121 arerespectively arranged with an upper guiding inclined plane 113 and alower guiding inclined plane 123; as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 or FIGS.12 and 13, use a bolt-nut mechanism or screws to axially connect athrough hole 115 of the upper convex ear 112 and a mounting hole 125 ofthe lower convex ear 122 so as to lock the upper convex ear 112 and thelower convex ear 122; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convexblock 121 move axially to narrow the middle aperture 31, the upperguiding inclined plane 113 and the lower guiding inclined plane 123contact with each other to make the upper convex block 111 and the lowerconvex block 121 to move circumferentially to narrow both the leftaperture 32 and the right aperture 33 so as to enable the hoop 1 totightly hold the object inside the axial mounting hole 2.

The upper guiding inclined plane 113 and the lower guiding inclinedplane 123 are directly arranged on the opposite end between the upperconvex block 111 and the lower convex block 121, and the upper guidinginclined plane 113 corresponds to the lower guiding inclined plane 123with respect to their positions; as shown in FIGS. 10-13, both thethrough hole 115 of the upper convex ear 112 and the mounting hole 125of the lower convex ear 122 have a circular or a waist shape.

As shown in FIGS. 14-16, a fan blade 9 is coupled to the outer wall ofthe hoop 1; the object inside the axial mounting hole 2 is either anexternal rotor 5 of the motor or a motor shaft 7. Certainly the lockingdevice of the present invention is also applicable to other fieldsbesides motors.

Example 3

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, a locking device comprises a hoop 1. The hoop 1curls up to form an axial mounting hole 2 in the middle; an upper convexblock 111 protrudes from the left side end 11 of the hoop 1 while alower convex block 121 protrudes from the right side end 12 of the hoop1; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convex block 121 aremisaligned to form a middle aperture 31; a left aperture 32 is formedbetween the hoop's left side end 11 and the lower convex block 121 and aright aperture 33 is formed between the hoop's right side end 12 and theupper convex block 111; an upper convex ear 112 protrudes from the outerside of the upper convex block 111 and a lower convex ear 122 protrudesfrom the outer side of the lower convex block 121; the upper convex ear112 corresponds to the lower convex ear 122 with respect to theirpositions; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convex block 121 arerespectively arranged with an upper guiding inclined plane 113 and alower guiding inclined plane 123; as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 or FIGS.12 and 13, use a bolt-nut mechanism or screws to axially connect athrough hole 115 of the upper convex ear 112 and a mounting hole 125 ofthe lower convex ear 122 so as to lock the upper convex ear 112 and thelower convex ear 122; the upper convex block 111 and the lower convexblock 121 move axially to narrow the middle aperture 31, the upperguiding inclined plane 113 and the lower guiding inclined plane 123contact with each other to make the upper convex block 111 and the lowerconvex block 121 to move circumferentially to narrow both the leftaperture 32 and the right aperture 33 so as to enable the hoop 1 totightly hold the object inside the axial mounting hole 2.

The upper guiding inclined plane 113 and the lower guiding inclinedplane 123 are directly arranged on the opposite end between the upperconvex block 111 and the lower convex block 121, and the upper guidinginclined plane 113 corresponds to the lower guiding inclined plane 123with respect to their positions; a reinforcing rib 6 is respectivelyarranged on the side of the upper convex ear 112 and the lower convexear 122; as shown in FIGS. 10-13, both the through hole 115 of the upperconvex ear 112 and the mounting hole 125 of the lower convex ear 122have a circular or a waist shape.

As shown in FIGS. 14-16, a fan blade is coupled to the outer wall of thehoop 1; the object inside the axial mounting hole 2 is either anexternal rotor 5 of a motor or a motor shaft 7. Certainly the lockingdevice of the present invention is also applicable to other fieldsbesides motors.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the outer side of the hoop 1 is coupled tothe fan blade 9; a balancing structure is arranged either on a mountingfoot 4 or the hoop 1 to eliminate dynamic unbalance caused by thebolt-nut mechanism or the screws. The balancing structure is a weightadjustment hole 8 arranged either on the mounting foot 4 or the hoop 1.The number of the fan blade 9 and the mounting foot 4 are three, whichare arranged along the surface of the hoop 1 with even circumference.The weight adjustment 8 is arranged on the mounting foot 4 on both sidesrather than the opposite side of either the bolt-nut mechanism or thescrews, or arranged close to either the bolt-nut mechanism or thescrews.

1. A locking device, comprising a hoop, the hoop curling up to form anaxial mounting hole in the middle, wherein an upper convex blockprotrudes from a left side end of the hoop and a lower convex blockprotrudes from a right side end of the hoop; the upper convex block andthe lower convex block are misaligned to form a middle aperture; a leftaperture is formed between the hoop's left side end and the lower convexblock, and a right aperture is formed between the hoop's right side endand the upper convex block; an upper convex ear protrudes from the outerside of the upper convex block and a lower convex ear protrudes from theouter side of the lower convex block; the upper convex ear correspondsto the lower convex ear with respect to their positions; the upperconvex block and the lower convex block are respectively arranged withan upper guiding inclined plane and a lower guiding inclined plane; theupper convex ear comprises a through hole, and the lower convex earcomprises a mounting hole; the through hole of the upper convex ear andthe mounting hole of the lower convex ear are axially connected using abolt-nut mechanism or screws to lock the upper convex ear and the lowerconvex ear; the upper convex block and the lower convex block moveaxially to narrow the middle aperture; and the upper guiding inclinedplane and the lower guiding inclined plane contact with each other tomake the upper convex block and the lower convex block to movecircumferentially to narrow both the left aperture and the rightaperture and enable the hoop to tightly hold an object inside the axialmounting hole.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper guidinginclined plane and the lower guiding inclined plane are directlyarranged on the opposite end of the upper convex block and the lowerconvex block, or respectively arranged on an upper inclined plate and alower inclined plate extending from the upper convex block and the lowerconvex block.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the upper convex ear isrespectively arranged at both ends of the upper inclined plate, thelower convex ear is respectively arranged at both ends of the lowerinclined plate, and the upper convex ear corresponds to the lower convexear with respect to their positions.
 4. The device of claim 2, whereinthe upper convex ear is arranged at one end of the upper inclined plate,the lower convex ear is arranged at one end of the lower inclined plate,and the upper convex ear corresponds to the lower convex ear withrespect to their positions.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein both thethrough hole of the upper convex ear and the mounting hole of the lowerconvex ear have a circular or a waist shape.
 6. The device of claim 2,wherein both the through hole of the upper convex ear and the mountinghole of the lower convex ear have a circular or a waist shape.
 7. Thedevice of claim 3, wherein both the through hole of the upper convex earand the mounting hole of the lower convex ear have a circular or a waistshape.
 8. The device of claim 4, wherein both the through hole of theupper convex ear and the mounting hole of the lower convex ear have acircular or a waist shape.
 9. The device of claim 5, wherein fan bladesare connected to the outer wall of the hoop.
 10. The device of claim 9,wherein the object inside the axial mounting hole is either an externalrotor of a motor or a motor shaft.
 11. The device of claim 5, whereinthe outer side of the hoop is connected to the fan blades using amounting foot; a balancing structure is arranged either on the mountingfoot or the hoop to eliminate dynamic unbalance caused by the bolt-nutmechanism or the screws; and the balancing structure is a weightadjustment hole arranged either on the mounting foot or the hoop. 12.The device of claim 11, wherein both the fan blades and the mountingfoot are three in number, which are arranged along the surface of thehoop with even circumference; the weight adjustment hole is arranged onthe mounting foot on both sides rather than the opposite sides of eitherthe bolt-nut mechanism or the screws.
 13. The device of claim 11,wherein the weight adjustment hole is arranged close to either thebolt-nut mechanism or the screws.